Traffic Noise Resources

Noise Impact Analysis Report

The noise impact analysis report, published May 2008, describes the methodology and presents the findings of the traffic noise study conducted for the full-depth reconstruction project from Milepost A20 to A31 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the traffic noise study was (1) to determine if project-related noise impacts would occur; and (2) to determine whether noise abatement for affected areas in the form of a sound barrier system would be warranted, feasible, and reasonable, based upon Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) criteria as utilized by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

The PTC is currently incorporating different methods of for noise reduction into the final design process. While the most common outdoor noise reduction method is referred to a sound barrier (wall), barriers can take different forms, as long as they break the line-of-sight between the vehicles on the highway and affected residential communities. Barriers can be in the form of walls (sound barrier panels) or topographical changes (earthen berm or hill).